UBE States

As many (if not all) of you are aware, most states are ditching the traditional state-specific bar exam to do the Uniform Bar Examination. This exam includes the MBE, MPT, and MEE. It is graded uniformly and consistently across the board so your grades won’t vary state to state. However, each state has to right to choose their own passing score. So I’ve compiled a list of UBE states and their current (as of 2018) passing scores.

Taking the exam in a UBE state can be beneficial in a lot of ways. For Example:

SITUATION #1 ~ you take the UBE in State 1 and fail. But your score was good enough to pass in UBE State 2. Yay! You can transfer your score over to that state where your score was good enough, and (assuming you meet all their other requirements), you should be able to bar in there instead). 🙂 (For more specific detes, check out the website here.)

SITUATION #2 ~ You take the UBE in State 1 in 2015. State 2 moves over to the UBE in 2017. Yay! You can now transfer your old UBE score over to State 2 and bar in there (assuming you took the bar recent enough to meet State 2’s time limitations rule). (For more specific detes, check out the website here.)

SITUATION #3 ~ You take the UBE in State 1, and later you want to transfer your MBE scores to a non-UBE State 2. Yay! So long as the state accepts transferred MBE scores, you should be able to do that (JUST MAKE SURE FIRST!) (For more specific detes, check out the website here.)

Notes

To Transfer UBE scores, you must take the entire exam at one time. You cannot mix and match scores.

To Transfer UBE scores, you must take the exam in a current UBE state.

So which states are UBE and what is their required Passing Score? (Scores for passing are the same as those required for transfers unless otherwise noted). Well, as of September 2018:

Alabama (260) –

EVERYONE:

Online course in Alabama specific law is required for transferring UBE score in.

MPRE must have been earned within 12 months before the UBE was taken.

TRANSFER:

Cannot transfer scores older than 25 months.

Alaska (280) –

EVERYONE

MPRE must be passed within 8 years of the application.

TRANSFER

Cannot transfer scores older than 5 years.

Arizona (273) –

EVERYONE

Online course in Arizona specific law is required for ALL exam takers.

MPRE must be earned within 5 years before or 2 years after passing the UBE.

TRANSFER

Cannot transfer scores older than 5 years.

Colorado (276) –

EVERYONE

MPRE can be no older than 2 years at the time of application (you can apply and then take the MPRE though).

TRANSFER

Cannot transfer scores younger than 3 years or older that 5 years. Must have done 2 years of active law practice before transferring.

Connecticut (266)–

EVERYONE

MPRE can be no older than 4 years at the time of application, and you have one year after the application.

TRANSFER

Cannot transfer scores older than 3 years.

D.C, Washington (266)

To transfer your scores, they must be less than 5 years old.

Idaho (272 / 280)

EVERYONE

As of February 2017, you need a 272.

TRANSFER

If you took the UBE before February 2017, you must have a score of 280!. If you take the UBE after February 2017, a score of 272 will be enough.

To transfer your scores, they must be less than 37 months old.

Illinois (266) ~ July 2019 is First Exam

TRANSFER

Cannot transfer scores older than 4 years.

Must be 266+

Iowa (266)

Cannot transfer scores younger than 2 years or older than 5 years. You must have been actively practicing law for 2 of the 3 years preceding your application.

Kansas (266)

UBE score must be obtained within 36 months of applying to TRANSFER score in.

Maine (276)

UBE scores cannot be transferred after 3 years. UBE score cannot be older than July 2014.

Maryland (TBD) — Change postponed to at least February 2020.

Massachusetts (270) –

EVERYONE

Study in Massachusetts law is supposed to be required – they’re apparently still figuring out the details.

TRANSFER

UBE transfer score will be 270 (according to the current NCBE records).

UBE score must be obtained within 36 months of applying to TRANSFER score in.

Minnesota (260)

UBE transfer score can be no older than 36 months.

Missouri (260)

EVERYONE

Must pass the MECT exam (open-book, online exam) as well as UBE (for everyone)

TRANSFER

UBE score must be obtained within 24 months before the application for transfer.

Montana (266)

EVERYONE

There will be a Montana Law class offered the day after the bar exam, required for everyone

As long as your MPRE score is 80+, it’s good for three years.

TRANSFER

No one can transfer in scores after 3 years.

Nebraska (270)

EVERYONE

Your MPRE score can be no older than 5 years.

TRANSFER

UBE score must be obtained within 3 years before the application for transfer.

New Hampshire (270)

TRANSFER

If you apply for transfer between 3-5 years after taking the bar exam, must show that you were practicing law actively for 2 years consequetively.

New Jersey (266)

EVERYONE

No time limit for the MPRE AND you can satisfy their requirement by taking an approved ethics course. 🙂

TRANSFER

UBE scores can be no older than 36 months.

New Mexico (260)

EVERYONE

There will be a required one-day course on New Mexico law for everyone

The MPRE must be less than 5 years before or 1 year after passing the UBE exam.

TRANSFER

UBE score must be obtained within 36 months before the application for transfer.

New York (266)

EVERYONE

There is an online class (NYLC) and a required exam (NYLE) for all takers or transferees.

MPRE must be taken within 3 years before or 3 years after the bar exam is passed.

TRANFER

UBE must be transfered within 3 years of the second day of the exam (specific 😛 )

North Carolina (270) — As of February 2019

EVERYONE

There will be a “state component” determined at some point.

TRANSFER

UBE score must be obtained within 36 months before the application for transfer

North Dakota (260)

EVERYONE

The MPRE can be no older than 5 years at the time of application. If taken AFTER the application is sent, you have to get an 85+ within two years or the application will be thrown away.

TRANSFER

UBE must be transferred within 2 years of the exam.

Ohio — First Exam will be July 2020

TRANSFER

Score cannot be older than 5 years

Oregon (274)

EVERYONE

The MPRE must be an 85+ and must be taken within 2 years of passing the UBE.

TRANSFER

UBE scores can be no older than 3 years old.

Rhode Island (276) — First Exam is February 2019

TRANSFER

Scores must be attained AFTER February 2019

Scores will be accepted up to two years after application to Rhode Island Bar

If a taker fails the UBE exam (does not attain a 276) five times, they will be unable to transfer scores into Rhode Island

South Carolina (266)

EVERYONE

There is a required course on South Carolina law that you need to complete before taking the bar exam or transferring in.

MPRE must be taken within 3 years.

TRANSFER

You must transfer the score within three years of taking the exam. For those taking it in February, the timing starts counting from March 1. For those taking it in July, the timing starts counting from August 1.

Tennessee (TBD) — First Date February 2019

TBD

Utah (270)

You can transfer any UBE passing score within 2 Years of the exam. If your score is between 2 years and 5 years, you must prove full time legal practice.

Vermont (270)

EVERYONE

MPRE is required either within 3 years before taking the UBE or 1 year after learning you PASSED the UBE.

TRANSFER

UBE score must be less than 3 years. If between 3 years and 5 years, you must prove that you worked in the legal field for 2 years.

Washington (270)

EVERYONE

There is a required open-book, timed exam (WLC) everyone must take.

MPRE is required to be taken within 3 years before or 40 months after the UBE.